It seems the world opposes, or even fears, anything perceived to be different from subscribed norms. When people are different or they try to do things differently, they must be ready for opposition. Stories abound, even in Biblical times, of men and women who had contributed so much to the progress of society in almost every conceivable field and yet they had to endure tremendous criticism, judgment and persecution. The reason for such imbalance obviously can be traced to the nature of humans. Anyone who tries to keep all the people happy all the time will never fulfill his/her destiny. Likewise the one who ignores all the people all the time. Everyone born into this world has the same starting point. We all have equal opportunities to either succeed or fail in life. Some others would definitely succeed, while others would end up in defeat and frustration.No doubt success is a universal desire. It is innately present in every human; everyone yearns for success in one form or the other. Unfortunately, many go about trying to succeed by chasing shadows; chasing the winds. Unquestionably, someone’s success in life should not be dependent on man’s fabricated opportunities, but should be monitored and guided by personal inputs. I don’t spend time listening to growth experts who are not exhibiting any outward sign of growing themselves. They are just propounding theories. Theories and ideas that are probably not workable. Rather, I engage in trying it out, even though I might be laughed at. Let me say this with all humility: we are a people of equal destiny, what distinguishes us is insight.The future of any endeavor is absolutely bleaks without that extra-ordinary self-confidence in one’s one capabilities and abilities. This is because the quality of confidence, is what ultimately determines the degree of triumph. The criticisms would come in their numbers. Scoffs and jibes would be plenty, but, because being successful is not a seven-day wonder, only self-confidence could drive those ones who would eventually turn out winners. There is always a period of challenges and adversity in life. Endurance, in the form of self-confidence, is the key needed to travail. At various stages of life’s race, challenges may arise but do not give in. It is your duty to resist discouragements when they come. It may not appear to be working today, but by keeping at it, it will surely work tomorrow. Most champions have marks of failure in their past records. But because they refused to remain where they fell, they ended up turning their stories for better.This discourse certainly cannot be complete without humble reference to one of the greatest minds to tread planet earth: Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin’s story, today, is well-known throughout the nooks and crannies of America and beyond. Even though he had no formal education, Benjamin Franklin was one of the most admired men in the Western world, during the last half of the 18th century. Till this day, Americans still commemorate the Benjamin Franklin Day; a day off in honor of a great brain, which came entirely by personal development. Even when Benjamin Franklin sought to write for his elder brother’s newspaper where he was an apprentice, he was outrightly rejected. He wrote stories anyway, under a pen name, Silence Dogood, a fictional widow who was highly opinionated, particularly on the issue of the treatment of women. “Silence Dogood” later became popular, but that was just the platform Benjamin needed to become successful, for his jealous brother beat him which resulted in his running away. He subsequently started his own printing shop and took over a newspaper, the ‘Pennslyvania Gazzete’ which became a success story in America.After inventing the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell struggled to come up with the money to make his invention a household name. Particularly, no one really took the invention seriously at first and even his family and friends encouraged him to focus on his improvements on the telegraph instead of that “speaking telephone nonsense.” Today, the world is regarded as a “small village”, largely due to improvements on Graham’s invention.The point being made here is that being different is the basis for success in life. How a person responds to your actions, and, for that matter, how others respond is really up to you. Life is a race. Anybody can be a winner in life. It takes those who are willing to be different. Champions are not born; they are made. Your desire of becoming a champion starts with the task of identifying the race set before you, and, it inevitably ends with you succumbing to life’s adversities that may present themselves. Dare to be different.Take charge of your destiny. See you at the top.

WRITTEN BY: Arikor Collins Ogo (CollinsOgo)

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